Tuesday, 14 February 2012 13:20 Kyaw Kha Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Campaigning in Kawhmu Township in a caravan that trailed more than 200 cars and thousands of motorcycles, National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman Aung San Suu Kyi said her first priority is to create jobs for all people, young and old.
Her motorcade, nearly two miles long, took six hours to arrive at Warthinkha village on Saturday, about 40 miles from Rangoon, because of the enthusiastic crowds that lined the roadside.
In her speech at Warthinkha village,...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Gambira’s rapid release a sign of greater scrutiny?
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 19:13 Mizzima News (Analysis) – It had the look of a classic right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.
The arrest of Ashin Gambira on Friday by security police and his release only a few hours later had the earmarks of a problem cited by Burmese activists over and over. While the government’s leaders are encouraging participation of civil society in Burmese affairs, lower-level officials are exercising the same old heavy-handed tactics of repression, harassment and arrests on...
Antimony companies suspend operations
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 21:28 Kun Chan (Mizzima) – Extracting antimony in Kyainseikkyi Township in Karen State is not financially worthwhile, say three companies that have suspended operations, according to sources close to the companies.
A fall in antimony prices and high taxes have forced several companies including Mya Pan, Htoo Aung Myat and Thuzana Pwint to suspend mining; the Nawarat and Aung Myay companies are still operating antimony mines.
“Antimony prices fell sharply and companies need to pay more money to obtain...
Thai adviser pitches Salween water plan
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 13:07 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – An adviser to Thailand’s prime minister has dusted off a plan to build a dam on the Salween River to solve floods and droughts in Thailand as well as to produce electricity for Thailand.
Uthen Chatphinyo, a Pheu Thai member and former chief of the committee overseeing water drainage to the south, said he would propose the plan to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin, proposed the plan, according to an article in The Bangkok...
Health crisis in eastern Burma: NGO survey
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:35 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – A widespread public health emergency exists in the decades-old conflict zones in eastern Burma, says a health report released by the Ibis Reproductive Health group.
Its consequences include maternal death rates that far surpass the rates in Thailand and Burma as a whole, leaving women in eastern Burma with the worst pregnancy outcomes anywhere in Asia. The group’s findings were released last week.
According to Dr. Angel Foster of Ibis and the University of Ottawa,...
Tai Yai labour strike deadlocked
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:14 Kyaw Kha Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Striking workers at the Tai Yai footware factory in Rangoon, the owner and government officials could not reach a settlement on Monday, as the strike went into its nineth day. Workers are asking for more pay and improved working conditions.
On February 9, workers at two nearby factories, the New Way footwear factory and the Thonehtutgyi garment factory, also staged strikes, which were quickly settled after a negotiated settlement.
However, a delegation of 38...
EU gives $200 million aid package
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 12:03 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced on Monday the release of a significant aid package to Burma, earmarked to benefit the health, education and infrastructure.
He announced an aid package of nearly $200 million after a meeting with President Thein Sein on Monday.
Piebalgs said Thein Sein had spoken positively about Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now seeking a seat in Parliament.
He said the president noted that in spite of major reforms in Burma, the...
World Bank can encourage human rights: HRW
Tuesday, 14 February 2012 13:33
(Mizzima) – The World Bank has a chance to promote human rights development in Burma by ensuring participation of civil society in the bank’s work in Burma, says Human Rights Watch (HRW).
HRW has sent the board of directors a letter prior to its scheduled meeting on Thursday to discuss future programs in Burma.
“The World Bank has an opportunity to ensure that the Burmese people are at the center of the development agenda,” said Arvind Ganesan of HRW. “For more than 20 years, Burma has been closed to the world....
Monday, February 13, 2012
Dunkley talks about his arrest, changes in Burma
Monday, 13 February 2012 13:20 Mizzima News(Mizzima) – The Australian publisher of The Myanmar Times, Ross Dunkley, was interviewed last week about the political changes in Burma and his role now on the English-language newspaper.
In this file photo, Ross Dunkley, the Australian journalist, stands outside a courtroom in Rangoon. Photo: Mizzima
“I’m back to normal” as editor of the newspaper,...
Friday, February 10, 2012
Activist monk Gambira is detained
Friday, 10 February 2012 14:31 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Ashin Gambira, one of the leaders of the “Saffron Revolution” in 2007, was removed from his monastery by authorities in Rangoon on Friday.
A fellow monk told CNN that around 10 men in plain clothes took Gambira away in a car. He said the men told him that Gambira was not under arrest, but he was wanted for questioning.
A leader of the All-Burmese Monks Alliance who was serving 68 years in prison before his release in January in an amnesty, Gambira may have been arrested...
The election will offer ‘intense rivalries’: NUP
Friday, 10 February 2012 21:37 Nyi Thit (Mizzima) – The National Unity Party (NUP says its main competitors in the by-election will be the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD). It expects a hard fought election.
Joint General-Secretary Khin Maung Gyi said, “This by-election will be different than the 2010 general elections. Besides our party, a big party like the NLD will also contest. Also, the smaller parties that contested in the 2010 election are stronger. There...
Water bills to rise in Rangoon
Friday, 10 February 2012 18:58 Min Thet Rangoon (Mizzima) – Water in Rangoon, already in short supply in some areas, is going to cost more starting April 1. The Rangoon City Development Committee announced on Thursday that water bills would increase from 25 to 40 pya per gallon for non-commercial use.
Soe Myaing, the head of the committee’s Engineering Department, explain the increase: “The cost of one gallon of water is 47 pya [a unit of Burmese money worth 0.01 kyat]. But we collect just 25 pya per one gallon for...
Rohingya issues discussed in Norway
Friday, 10 February 2012 15:59 Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – Maung Tun Khin (aka) Ziaul Gaffar, the president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, visited with Norwegian officials in Oslo recently, where he met with the former prime minister.
Maung Tun Khin met the former prime minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik, who is the director of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights.
“I had an extremely valuable discussion with the former prime minister. I express our gratitude for his long-time efforts for human rights...
Rangoon factory workers’ protest spreads
Friday, 10 February 2012 12:32 Kyaw Kha Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A four-day workers’ strike at the Tai Yi footwear factory in an industrial zone in Rangoon Region on Thursday spread to a nearby factory.
More than 1,000 workers at the New Way footwear factory, located nearby, went on strike on Thursday, in the same Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone. In both strikes, workers are seeking higher wages and other rights.
More than 1,800 workers from the Tai Yi factory began their strike on Monday.
“The New Way factory...
Writers’ talks banned in Magway region
Friday, 10 February 2012 12:05 Myo ThantChiang Mai (Mizzima) – During the past month, township chiefs in Magway Region have not allowed seven planned literary events to be held, according to writers who tried to speak in the area.
One banned writer told Mizzima that the writers had planned to talk about rebuilding the country, changing the mindset of the public, national hero General Aung San and other topics.
Writer Maung Tha Cho said that he had planned to deliver literary talks in Aunglan Township and Myitchay Township...
Education and health focus of U.N. conference
Friday, 10 February 2012 19:07 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – A three-day U.N. conference “Development Policy Options with special reference to Education and Health in Myanmar” will be held in Naypyitaw on Monday.
The keynote addresses will be delivered by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate in economics, and Prof. Ronald Findlay, both of Columbia University.
High-level government officials, the chef de cabinet and special advisor to the U.N. Secretary-General, Vijay Nambiar; the European Union Commissioner for Development,...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Shwe Mann delivers reformist-style speech
Thursday, 09 February 2012 11:58 Myo Thant Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – In a startling admission of the Burmese government’s past failings –including systemic corruption – the speaker of the Lower House has called on Parliament members to pass laws that modernize the government and serve the people.
Sounding like a democratic opposition reformist, former general Shwe Mann presented a blistering critique of the failures of the Burmese government on Tuesday. He told lawmakers not to dwell on the past, but to bring about reforms...
EU official to talk about aid package
Thursday, 09 February 2012 16:24 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – The European Union development commissioner said on Thursday he would discuss an increased humanitarian aid package with Burmese officials in Naypyitaw next week.
“There is a lot of opening and a very promising dynamic in Myanmar, even if it is still fragile,” Andris Piebalgs told the media prior to his departure to Burma on Saturday.
Earlier, noting the recent democratic reforms underway in Burma, EU officials said the alliance would provide 150 million euros (almost...
Banks increase interest rate by 2 per cent
Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:44 Mizzima News (Mizzzima) – A number of Burmese banks have raised the interest rate to 10 per cent from 8 per cent in a move to increase the rate of savings, The Myanmar Times reported on Wednesday.
The move follows the lowering of bank loan interest rates in January by some private banks from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, which was aimed to encourage entrepreneurs.
Burma’s Ministry of Finance and Revenue said there have been 19 private banks established in the country since 1992, with...
Healthy jump in Burma’s foreign trade
Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:03 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Driven by increased natural gas exports, Burma’s foreign trade is expected to grow more than 30 percent, reaching US$ 16.1 billion in fiscal year 2011-12, the Ministry of Commerce reported.
The trade figure for the previous year was $12 billion thanks in part to trade policy changes, according to local media on Wednesday.
The trade volume attained $14 billion in the first 10 months (April-January) of 2011-12, The Myanmar Times reported.
Of the total during the...
Suu Kyi to campaign in Kawmhu
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:34 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Aung San Suu Kyi says she will campaign for the first time in the Kawmhu constituency on the outskirts of Rangoon on Saturday, before launching campaign trips to all state and regional capitals before the April 1 by-election.
Burma’s opposition leader told reporters last week that she chose Kwamhu because of its large Kayin population.
“I might visit [Kawmhu] more than three times if I don’t have to go elsewhere to campaign,” she said, speaking to the press at...
Largest crowds yet welcome Suu Kyi
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 12:06 Kyaw Kha Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – On her second major campaign tour, Aung San Suu Kyi drew an estimated 30,000 supporters to a rousing political rally in Myaungmya Township in Irrawaddy Region on Tuesday.
In her speech, she emphasized the practical needs of the people such as employment, education and healthcare.
“I want to nurture the youth, and I want to make them more educated,” she said. “Getting proper healthcare for all adults and youth is the objective of the NLD. It’s very simple....
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Rangoon airport on high alert
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 21:19 Myo Thein (Mizzima) – On Friday, Burmese authorities placed the Rangoon Mingaladon Airport under a high security alert, following a bomb threat against Myanmar Airways.
The alert was implemented after a letter threatening a bombing was received by the Burmese embassy in Bangkok. Sources said the bombing might involve a Muslim male.
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) under the Directorate of Air Transport determined the threat level.
“The DCA upgraded the alert level to grade 1 after...
Seventeen political parties to contest by-election
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 14:30 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Burma’s Union Election Commission abolished two newly registered political parties for their failure to run for at least three vacant seats in the coming April 1 by-elections, according to Xinhua news agency.
A total of 17 political parties including 11 old and six newly registered parties will run in by-elections, according to local media.
An election commission announcement on Wednesday said the two political parties are the Democratic Alliance Party and...
Mekong River patrols to increase
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 18:50 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – The Thai navy, in response to increased lawlessness and drug activity on the Mekong River, will expand its number of boats and naval personnel now patrolling the river, according to a Thai admiral.
The Mekong Riverine Operation Unit (MROU) will be beefed up to better contribute to the joint patrols with China, Laos and Burma, navy chief Admiral Surasak Roomruangwong said in an article published by the Bangkok Post on Wednesday.
The Thai navy now has 200 navy personnel,...
Norway announces major scholarship program
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 15:12 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will offer scholarships to qualified Burmese nationals to pursue a master's degree program at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok.
Up to 40 master's students per year for three years will be recruited starting in August 2012. Any Burmese national who meets the AIT admissions requirements is eligible to apply.
The scholarship package will cover all tuition and registration fees, a research grant, bursary...
PTT ready to expand its Burma oil business
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 14:44 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – Thailand’s state-owned PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) says it will sign an agreement with Burma to explore for oil and gas in two onshore petroleum blocks this month.
The company said Burma “is our core market for exploration and production in Southeast Asia,” in an article in The Bangkok Post on Wednesday.
In mid-January, PTT Plc, Thailand’s largest energy company, said it was studying whether to invest in a power plant in the Dawei industrial...
CIA director to visit top Burmese leaders
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 11:39 Mizzima News (Mizzima) – The director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is planning to visit with Burmese leaders sometime later this year, according to a report in The New York Times.
After talking with CIA director David Petraeus in Thailand on Tuesday, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told reporters that Petraeus said he would “definitely go Burma this year,” the NYT quoted Surapong as saying.
The visit is the latest signal that relations between the U.S. and Burma,...
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